Lessons from Hillary Clinton

Calling a candidate’s loss in a U.S. presidential race a “professional disappointment” is as much of an understatement as Hillary Clinton’s candidacy was historic. Boiled down to its essence, however, that’s indeed what it was, at least for Clinton—she was a final candidate for a role she really wanted, and she didn’t get the job.

While the scale of one’s own career letdowns doesn’t compare to hers, a professional woman can relate to the hurt. Who hasn’t wanted to retreat into the woods after getting rejected for something you really wanted?

Clinton has spent the months since the November election reflecting on her November 2016 loss to Donald Trump, prompting her to write a book about her presidential campaign. At her first official book tour talk in Washington, D.C., for her memoir, What Happened (Simon & Schuster), Clinton revealed six tactics she employed to recover from her career disappointment.

Engage in Activities that Clear Your Mind. One of the first “Hill sightings” following the election was in the woods of a preserve in Chappaqua, New York. She and President Clinton and their dog were spotted hiking. She wasn’t trying to escape, but gaining emotional comfort from taking long walks. Science supports that method, with several studies showing the emotional benefits of spending time in nature.

Find Something to Make Orderly. When life seems out of control, one often feels better finding something to organize. In Clinton’s case, she found solace in cleaning out closets. In the book, she writes about giving away old clothes to her friends and throwing away clutter and junk.

Write in a Brutally Honest Way. Journaling is all well and fine, but if a person isn’t going to be 100 percent honest, she won’t get over the hurt. Clinton said she saw it as “catharsis and an opportunity for reflection”. She didn’t censor herself, nor did she hold back on what she perceived as her shortcomings. “Being candid helped me get to deeper and bigger truths,” Clinton revealed.

Take Care of Yourself Physically. While writing What Happened, there were some moments that were so painful for Clinton that she could do little more than retreat to her bedroom. “I’d write about something and then would have to go lie down,” she stated. Clinton listened to what her body needed, in this case, rest, and indulged in taking naps and sleeping in, which she hadn’t been able to in years. Yoga, plus a meditative breathing technique called “alternate nostril breathing,” helped her too. She also ate healthy, one of the things President Obama asked about when he called to check on her, she said.

Don’t Become a Hermit. One of the things that got Clinton out of bed during the worst of days were the stories of people around the world who were forming advocacy groups to push forth causes she cared about. While she did disconnect in the days after the election, she eventually tuned back in to text messages, emails and media coverage. Had she not, she may not have heard about these groups, and they wouldn’t have inspired her.She also surrounded herself with supportive people. “Having support and encouragement from family and friends made all the difference,” she said.

Keep Perspective. “No matter what happens in life,” Clinton said, “there are ways to get up and keep going.”

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